"New 28mm Renaissance Light Cavalry From Steel Fist Miniatures" Topic

Steel Fist has quickly become the "gold standard" for Italian Wars miniatures. Looking forward to their future releases and wish Simon continued success.

They are very good, I am tempted to resurrect a project

Mounted "arquebusiers"?

Ominious. I would be glad to see any reference to any being used apart from making infantry mobile (as happened eg with some Italian formations)

Apart from that, order placed.

Puster – the arquebusiers and crossbowmen will be posed as riding/advancing. You're correct that at this time arquebusiers were most probably mounted for getting from A to B.
There are images of crossbows being shot from horseback in late 15th century Swiss/German illustrations however. But 'at ready' poses will be most useful we think.
Simon.

PS – thanks for your order!

Mounted crossbows were indeed used in European warfare, especially in Germany, to the point that some author dreamed of the perfect crusader army consisting of French knights, English archers and German (mounted) crossbow. I forgot who that was, however. These did use their crossbows while mounted. Afaik all depictions are from the era before 1480.

The usage of arquebus, however, seems limited to "Dragoon" style (not unlike the mounted archers) and afaik were used at least by some Italian formations in the 1510-30ies. I have read of earlier attempts to use arquebus (or other shot) by heavily armed mounted to break up the enemy formations directly before a charge, but failed to find any contemporary samples for their actual practical use. These would take another couple of decades before being realized with the pistol armed "Reiters". Afaik one of the Vermeyes cartons on the "Siege of Tunis 1535" shows a mounted Berber shooting his arquebus, though.
That said, the horses used by arquebusiers to move should differ from those used for mounted combat. Coursers and Destriers vs. Rouncy and Palfrey.

Feel free to produce them, and if they sell all the better. I will most likely get me a sample of each of your splendid minis for that era, though put these aside the mounted arquebusiers of TAG as curiosities.

In 2016 I saw a painting in the Palazzo Rosso in Genoa that shows both mounted and dismounted arquebusiers (or musketeers) firing at cavalry. Unfortunately I didn't photograph it or note the year. :-(

Damn. Now I need to see that painting :-)
Just spend 20 minutes searching for that online, though to no avail yet. Its mandatory that you return and provide us with photos!

Its mandatory that you return and provide us with photos!

I hear Genoa is very nice this time of year. A mere train ride from Germany--do post your photos when you return. ;-)

Genoa is a pretty nice place most of the year around. :-)

Hi guys I am Genoese (though not a mercenary crossbowman…) and would gladly source a copy of the picture of Palazzo Rosso painting you mentioned in a few days for you all..!Genova is a nice and a very important historical town in Italy, regretfully not as famous as Rome, Florende, Siena and Venice; nevertheless she is full of valuable museums, art collections and historical artefacts due to her very peculiar history as an independent town and republic in Italy until XIX C, dating back from the very early Medieval age. By the way we have the only world XVII, XVIII and XIX C defensive forts belt still intact surrouding the town hills: more than 15 forts and largely intact military route connecting them. Simon I checked the website Yesterday but most of the Medieval and Renaissance infantry pack still seem to be out of stock. Will they be available again soon!?

thank You Federico/samuraifreddy

"Battle between harquebusiers and cavalry", c. 1640.

…c. 1640.

About 120 years later than period depicted by the Steel Fist cavalry.

LOL that is great to see! That's precisely the one. Thanks very much indeed for digging it out, Endless.

I did say that I couldn't recall the year. :-)

Thanks a lot. Thats what I call international service! Much appreciated.

It definitely is too late as a sample for the minis in question, and seems to show an ambush on a mounted unit, not regular combat (which also means that firing when ambushed does not mean it was typical tactics).

BTW: Genoa – one of the two major Italian seapowers, with a medieval and renaissance history to behold. For the Italian wars the role of the Genuese fleet under Andrea Doria cannot be underestimated, especially eg when he changed sides in 1529 and doomed the efforts of the Italian and French army before Naples, while saving the besieged Imperials. The city is definitely on my list to visit in the years ahead.

Yes far too late to be relevant for the point in question, but super to see it again.

Puster- Genoa has a superb replica galley that you can wander around, in the Maritime Museum, which is well worth a visit.

If I visit Genoa, I will remember and visit the Maritime Museum if it fits in.